When a valve will not shut off, it is an emergency
A shutoff valve is the one part you rely on to stop the water. When it fails, the only way to stop the flow is the main valve for the whole house, and that valve may be old too.
Treat these as emergencies:
- A faucet, tub spout or shower that keeps running with the handle off
- A wall or sink shutoff valve that will not turn, or turns and does nothing
- Water spraying or running from a supply line or the stem of a valve
- A hose bib or outdoor faucet that burst or is leaking inside the wall
- A broken main valve or a valve that has snapped off in your hand
Water will not shut off?
Our line is answered 24/7. Call and we will start planning a same-day visit.
What to try when the valve will not hold
These work in order. Stop at the first one that stops the water.
- 1
Local shutoff
Turn the valve under the sink or behind the fixture clockwise, slowly and without forcing it.
- 2
Main house valve
Find it near the water heater, in the basement or where the line enters. Turn it clockwise.
- 3
Open a low tap
Once the main is closed, open the lowest faucet to drain pressure from the pipes.
- 4
City on-call line
If the main valve is stuck, call Midvale Public Works at 801-567-7235 and press 0.
Do not use a wrench on a stuck valve hard enough to bend the stem. A snapped stem turns a slow leak into a flood, and replacing the valve is a plumber's job.
Common faucet and valve problems
Different fixtures fail in different ways. Here is how they usually show up.
Kitchen and bathroom sink faucets
Drips from the spout come from worn washers, seats or cartridges. Water under the sink often comes from the supply lines or the base seals.
Tub and shower faucets
A tub spout that runs after the handle is shut means a worn cartridge or valve. Water staining a ceiling below is a sign the leak is behind the wall.
Shower valve and showerhead
Leaks from the handle point to the cartridge. A leaking showerhead arm may only need new tape or a new connector.
Shutoff and supply valves
Old multi-turn valves seize from mineral buildup. Turning one that has not moved in years can crack it, so go slowly.
Sink faucet types and what usually fixes them
The style of handle tells us what is inside.
| Type | How it looks | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Two handles that turn several times | New washers and seats |
| Cartridge | One or two handles with smooth action | Replace the cartridge |
| Ball | Single handle over a rounded base | Replace seats, springs or the ball |
| Ceramic disc | Single lever with a wide cylinder | Replace the disc cartridge |
Hard water and faucet wear
Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District reports a 2025 average total hardness of 182.4 mg/L, a level USGS classes as very hard. That is the water supplied to the east side of Midvale. Hard water leaves scale on aerators and inside cartridges, so east-side faucets often show low flow and slow drips sooner than they otherwise would.
Unscrew the aerator at the tip of the spout and soak it in white vinegar to clear scale. If the flow is still weak, the cartridge is the next suspect. For west-side addresses on city wells, ask Midvale Public Utilities for the water quality report.
Hose bibs and winter freezes
Midvale sits at about 4,383 feet, and winter nights fall below freezing often enough to split pipe. A hose left attached through a cold snap traps water in the bib and the pipe behind the wall, and the split shows up when the weather warms.
Disconnect hoses before the first hard freeze and shut the indoor valve that feeds the outdoor spigot if you have one. If you find a wet spot inside the wall on the first warm day, call. A freeze-split pipe is a burst pipe repair job, not just a faucet job.
Repair the faucet or replace it?
Both options work. The right one depends on age, parts and how the finish looks.
Repair
- Fixture is newer and the finish is good
- Parts are easy to find
- Leak is from one worn part
- You want to keep the style
Replace
- Faucet is old and parts are hard to get
- More than one part is worn
- Finish is pitted or the body is corroded
- You want a different style or spout height
What affects the cost of faucet repair
A cartridge swap and a new faucet with new shutoff valves are different jobs.
Insurance may cover water damage from a sudden fixture failure but usually not the faucet itself. Take photos of damage to the cabinet or floor.
Before you call about a faucet
Having these answers ready speeds up the visit.
- Which fixture is leaking, and is it the spout, the handle or the base
- Whether the shutoff valve underneath turns and stops the water
- Roughly how old the faucet is, and whether any brand name is visible
- Whether water has reached a cabinet, ceiling or floor
- A photo of the faucet or the leak, if you can take one
If you are not sure, call anyway. We will walk through it with you on the phone.
Related fixture and leak work
Faucet and valve work often sits next to other jobs. A backed-up sink is a drain cleaning call, and a wet cabinet that does not match any visible leak may need leak detection to find the real source.
Where this guidance comes from
Replacement parts and fittings follow the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and the faucet maker's guidelines for flow rate and installation.
Faucet repair questions from Midvale homeowners
Yes. The line is answered 24/7, including holidays. We book same-day appointments when available and give you a clear price before work starts.
Do not force it. Close the main shutoff for the house, then call. We can replace the stuck valve and install a new one that works.
A worn cartridge or valve seat inside the wall is the usual cause. It tends to get worse, so it is worth fixing before it stains the ceiling below.
If the faucet is newer and the finish is good, repair is often enough. If parts are hard to find or the body is corroded, replacing is the better call.
Yes. Tell us the style on the call so we can bring the right parts, such as supply lines and mounting hardware.
A clogged aerator is the most common cause, especially with hard water. Unscrew it and soak it in vinegar. If that does not help, the cartridge is next.